Fluid jet nozzle



April 1937- M. E. CALLANDER 2,076,445

FLUID JET NOZZLE Filed Oct. 21, 1936 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID JET NOZZLE Marshall E. Callander, Dallas, Tex. Application October 21, 1935, Serial No.- 106,891

3 Claims. (or. 299-141 .The invention relates to the art of manufacturing rock or mineral wool from molten rock or slag and pertains particularly to a fluid jet nozzle for subjecting the molten rock or slag to the action of steam or air blasts and the like.

In consideration of the invention, it should be understood that the commercial value of rock or mineral wool is governed by the uniformity of the fibers of the wool and by presence or lack of dross material which consists chiefly of balls or globules of the melted rock or slag which have been chilled and solidified before the energies to,

which they have been subjected have been able to spin them out into fibers thus reducing them to such size as not to be objectionable in the finished material.

General practice in the manufacture of rock or mineral wool is to subject the rock or slag to such extreme heat that it will fuse and become a molten mass which is suiliciently fluid to flow from the heating device ina steady stream. This resultant stream of molten rock or slag is allowed to fall by gravity at about'right angles to the direction and into the path of a nozzle through which steam or air is passing at high velocity.

As the molten rock or slag is struck by the air or steam emitted by the nozzle or jet, its direction of travel is instantly changed to conform with the movements of the steam or air. This results in a shearing action which tears the lower end of the molten stream into myriads of tiny particles which, as they are projected into space at nearly the velocity of thesteam or air driving them,

still being in molten or fluid state, conform to the natural laws of energy and wind resistance and form into more or less globular shape.

Each tiny shot or globule, being projected through the surrounding air, is caused by the resultant force to assume somewhat of a streamline shape, 1. e.. bluntly round at its forward side and tapering to a sharp tail at the rear. The wind pressure and friction on its forward surfaces tend to force the outer layer of itself toward the rear and the vacuum drawn behind the miniature projectile in its flight draws the shifting surface layer from-the rear of the drop in the form of a long attenuated fiber. Each tiny shot or globule, containing its flight and leaving behind it a part of itself in the form of a fiber, becomes smaller and smaller as it progresses. -When its velocity is expended and it has cooled sufllciently it congeals and forms a solid ball at the forward end of the fiber or strand it has created.

If the globule projected is too large, it will form too large a fiber. If it is too small, it will form too small and fragile a fiber. If it is projected at too high velocity, it will move so swiftly that it will break the fiber. If it is projected too slowly, it will not form any fiber but will congeal in practically spherical form.

Therefore, it is the primary object of the invention to provide a nozzle with a tip so that the molten material be subjected to forces which will atomizeit uniformly and will project each atom or globule at uniform speed and direction. The above has been predicated upon the molten rock or slag streams being delivered to the nozzle in a steady manner and at a uniform volume and velocity. However, it is often impossible in practice to obtain a perfectly uniform stream of molten material from the cupola or other heating device. Therefore, the present invention provides a nozzle which by its manner of construction and operation adapts itself to the uniform atomization of, and allows great variance in volume and velocity of, the stream of material with which it is supplied without varying in its degree of atomization to any appreciable extent. Before the molten rock or slag escapes from the .initial forces applied to it, each portion is thoroughly subjected to the proper forces and I is projected into space in the form of a uniformly atomized mass of spray.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will occur hereinafter. y

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of a nozzle constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line {-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresonding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

In carrying out the present invention as shown, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, there is provided a pipe 5 carrying a nozzle proper 6 and this pipe supplies the said nozzle with the necessary steam or air under sumcient pressure to insure the velocity required. The nozzle 6 may be fastened to the pipe 5 in any practical manner, although in this instance it is shown as being screwed upon said pipe as at I. In its simplest form it may be made from a standard pipe cap.

Within the nozzle 6 are holes I, these being drilled in the face of said nozzle and the disposition as well as the design and arrangement of these holes is the salient feature of the present invention.

Most rock or mineral wool manufacturers use a V-type jet or a composite'nozzle jet arranged more or less in a V formation. These jets are not flexible in the amount of material which may be handled by them nor do they apply the forces of steam or air in a manner necessary to produce uniform fiber size and length.

Certain of the holes identified at D project directly at right angles to the face of the nozzle.

All of the other holes A, B and C, are designed so that they converge with one or more of the other individual jets at a point approximately twice as far from the face of the jet as the mean diameter of the pipe 5. The holes in the groups A and D form a rather broad V but one in which the sides do not converge at the bottom, however, the holes A of this group are directed in a downward direction which aids in drawing the molten stream into the vortex of the, forces from the convergence of the jets from the groups of holes A and D. Part of the molten stream, entrapped between the lower extremities of these groups, is atomized. What isleft, because of the direction of the jets in the holes B, is carried to the right and is entrapped between the holes B and D. Most of the molten material will have been atomized by the time it reachesthe junction point of the jets emitted from the groups of holesB and C. The jets emitted from the group of holes 0 all converge on apoint ahead. of the top of the jets emitted from the group of holes D and any molten material which has escaped past the jets emitted from the group A- and group, B without being drawn into the vortices between these groups and group D will be carried upwardly and projected forward into the vortex between the groups C and D. I Thus it will be seen that the invention allows varying volumes and velocities of molten rock or slag to be uniformly subjected to the shearing forces of the convergence of the several and va rious sets of jets from the groups" of holes or orifices in the nozzle. i

As the spray of molten material leaves'the face of the nozzle 6 a slight whirling motion is imparted to it which helps in the projection .of each globule by imparting to it a whirling action as evidenced by the flight of most globules being in a shallow arc.

The velocity of the steam or air from the jets causes considerable air to be inducted onto the face of the nozzle. This holds the molten slag on or near the face of the nozzle until it has been properly atomized.

The molten slag is allowed to fall just ahead of the nozzle The various-outer groups of jets draw the molten slag past them in turn and between them and the group of jets D. If the slag stream is small it will .be completely atomized before it has passed the group of jets B. The greater the stream the farther will it flow around the groups A, B and C of jets toward the juncture of said groups D and C but, large or small, the molten slag disappears into the receiving chamber in the form of a bluish fan of evenly divided particles so small as to give the impression of being smoke or fog.

The rock or mineral wool made with this jet is of such quality as to be equal to the average processed wool without the necessity of shaking or processing in any way. 7

While it has been spoken that the jet is operated by steam, any suitable air, gas, vapor or the like under pressure may be used.

While there has been described" and shown the preferred embodiment and arrangement of the invention, it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages and as fall properly within the scope of the appended face end being provided with groups of orifices 1 arranged in general conformation of the arabic figure 6. r

2. A nozzle of the kind described having a tubular body and a flat face at one end, the flat face end being provided with groups of orifices arranged in general conformation of the arabic figure 6, and converging in a forward direction in several planes necessary to propel induced material in a circular direction across the face of the nozzle.

3. A nozzle of the kind described having a tubular body and a flat face at one end, the fiat face end being provided with-groups of orifices arranged in general conformation of the arabic.

figure 6, and converging in a forward direction in several planes necessary to propel induced material in a circular direction across the face of the nozzle, and the flat surface of said body being extended sufllciently beyond the outer limits of the orifices to cause induced air currents to hold induced material on the face of said body.

MARSHALL E. CALLANDER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No- 2,076,445. I April 1937.

It is hereby certified that errorappears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: In the grant, lines 2 and 15, name of applicant, for "Marshall B. Callender" read Marshall E. Callander; page 1, first column, line 48, for "containing" read continuing; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may con-form to .the record of the case in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 1st day of June; A. D. 1937.

I Henry Van Arsdale S eal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

